More than 10,000 Olympians are competing in Beijing, and according to Outsports.com, only 10 of them are openly gay, and only one of those is male. That one is Australian diver Matthew Mitcham, who will compete in both the platform and the springboard.
Obviously, it's impossible that Mitcham is the only gay man competing; there must be dozens or hundreds of gay male Olympic athletes who haven't made their sexual orientations public. But why would they keep it a secret? Jim Buzinski writes:
The reasons athletes stay in the closet are varied, but revolve mainly around fear of the consequences of being out -- from the effects on performance, interaction with teammates, fans and the media, and, in some cases, endorsements. In addition, the vast majority of Olympic athletes are under 30, a time when even people who are not elite jocks are wrestling with their sexuality. Being an Olympic athlete requires full-time dedication and a lot of things get put on hold. It is just easier to hide and deal with one's sexuality later.Of those reasons given, I would hope the last one -- "it is just easier" -- is the main reason. But I suspect that it has more to do with the interaction with teammates. In sports, especially men's sports, there's still a widespread perception that athletes would have big problems if their teammates knew they were gay. Mitcham is a lonely voice for abolishing the silly notion that homosexuality is somehow incompatible with sports; I hope at the next Olympics his voice isn't so lonely.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-14-2008 @ 8:56PM
matt said...
WHOA!!! How can you say it is impossible?
And whats this junk about there is "widespread perception" that athletes would have a problem being naked in a locker room wth a gay teammate? Come on, Mike, is it really "perception" as you say, or is it a simple truth that some players dont want gay teammates.
You have got to be the biggest apologist for the homosexual lifestyle, sup wit dat? Huh?
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8-15-2008 @ 2:07PM
Brett said...
I would think it is impossible to believe Matthew is the only homosexual male competing in the Olympics first because of the percentages (based on the sexuality of all males) and secondly because there are gay male athletes who have come out once their career was over. They hid the truth because they wanted to play the sport that interested them.
I think that it is easier to keep it to oneself - especially while going thru the intense training required for the Olympics.
I applaud all the Athletes (gay or not). I may cheer a little harder for Matthew because he is gay. Ultimately I would think that Matthew would like to be remembered more for being an outstanding diver - especially in this forum. Kudos to all.
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8-15-2008 @ 2:59PM
steve said...
get over it!
being gay is a tough road...being a jock, an actor...or even
a priest or rabbi.
cut the guy some slack...only a homophobic person who
has questions about their own sexual ID would raise a question about being gay and being in the Olympics...
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8-15-2008 @ 3:00PM
Daniel said...
I really don't see the point of this story! Who cares how many gay athletes are in the Olympics? If the media would just leave sex out of things the world would be better off. Stories like this are the cause of scorn and problems by making something that does not matter a high light in a place it doesn't belong!
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8-15-2008 @ 3:35PM
dvus001 said...
" I really don't see the point of this story! Who cares how many gay athletes are in the Olympics?"
Unfortunately, we, the general public, cares. We define our Olympic Athletes as HEROES...and I don't think the world is ready yet to have a GAY HEROE.
And think of this...if this were not a story of interest....then why are WE reading and commenting????
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8-15-2008 @ 8:52PM
DANNY said...
Sexual orientation is a rather PERSONAL matter. So be it.
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8-18-2008 @ 11:52PM
Dylan said...
I can't get over how silly most of the responses to this article are. I have no doubt that if more gay athletes felt comfortable coming out that would be one less distracting stress factor removed from their lives. Also, isn't it just better for people to be able to be open about who they are on a day-to-day basis?
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8-22-2008 @ 11:33AM
shaun said...
Give the guy a break, hes worked hard in trainning to get into games and all everyone wants to talk about is what hes into in the bedroom! why? this is after all about how he dose in the pool as world olypian.
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8-23-2008 @ 5:10AM
John Frame said...
It has been hugely valuable for Matthew Mitcham to be open with mainstream media about being gay - and about being in a happy relationship with another young man.
It is highly appropriate for that action to find the desired reaction of mainstream media picking it up as a point of discussion. Matt chose to go public about being gay to help kick start the process of the general public realising that it's just as OK to be gay as it is to be straight and to be in sports.
The average heterosexual may not notice, but gay ones do, when mainstream media routinely include as an angle of interest regarding heterosexual athletes as to whether they have a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife.
There's a deafening silence about the love interests of same sex attracted athletes - and what young people especially need to know is that same sex love is equally real and valuable and worthy of public recognition.
Matthew's a home town (Brisbane, Australia) hero.
Parents should be looking to Matthew Mitcham's example and saying "I will be proud if my son or daughter grows up to be that talented, that brave, that honest and that confident."
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9-06-2008 @ 12:37AM
Richard Murphy said...
Matthew Mitcham is an international hero whether gay not not.
What makes him superbly outstanding is that he is openly gay knowing that his endorsements by various companies will suffer. It seems that he couldn't even afford to fly his boyfriend to Beijing without financial assistance.
Make the Pink Dollar work to encourage more athletes to follow his example. Support the companies that support him!
Come on Speedo, AussieBum, Tag Heuer, Rolex, etc we're watching you.
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8-23-2008 @ 10:47PM
Fasty said...
Well I can tell you there's at least three more gay Olympians, because I know them.
But I was SO thrilled that Matthew was going to medal, and when he hit that last dive....awesome. I may be American, but I felt Aussie at that moment. Congrats, Matthew!!
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8-24-2008 @ 4:12AM
Ron said...
As an American I've been watching and cheering for Michael these last 2 weeks....Yes, it was exciting...but tonite...even w/o knowing his background story...I was rooting for Matthew... that last dive had me on my feet cheering.....He did his flag proud...be it the Australian flag or the 'rainbow' flag...and he's shown that hard work and perserverance does pay off...Matthew you will be a lasting memory of the 2008 Olympics for me.
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8-24-2008 @ 11:45AM
Roseish said...
i just heard about Michael recently when i saw him on the olimpics, and i watched him and he's amazing. and openly gay? thats great! my moms been trying to convince me i'm straight all frickin morning >:(
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8-24-2008 @ 7:43PM
David Samuel said...
Matthew Mitcham.
Australian. Diver. Olympian. Gold Medalist. Gay.
The particular order of those words just simply does not matter.
The specific facts of his life do matter so very much, to so many people.
Thank you Matt. You rock.
xxx
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8-25-2008 @ 8:50PM
Ed said...
re matt post (8-14th. 8:56 p.m.): Matt, you really should learn to
be a better reader. Brett was expressing his BELIEF that there were
likely more gays competing than is reported. Since he is simply
voicing an opinion, he can certainly use the word "impossible." Re
your second point, "widespread perception" is also valid, even if ALL
teammates are bigots. The public is left with "perception" simply
because it is physically impossible for them to speak personally with
all the teammates in the world. Lastly, there is no such thing as a
"homosexual lifestyle." Gay people live many different lifestyles,
just as their straight fellow citizens do. The "lifestyle" spin was
added some time ago by anti-gay folks who wanted to impart to the
public the (here we go again)--perception--that sexual orientation is
a matter of choice--just like a "lifestyle." So learn to read, and
shed the "lifestyle" spin....
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9-08-2008 @ 2:53PM
Geeorge Hyde said...
To each his own......Whether or not a person "comes out" iis a personal decision based on a multiplicity of reasons.....ranging from "family" to "employment" to "religion". And what a waste of time it is to "debate" about whether or not Matthew (or anyone ) is of a same gender sexual and affectional orientation.
Matthew certainly is not the only gay participating in Olympic activities..... I personally know this as a fact, But just as "they" have not made an issue of this, neither should we. I am a practioner of a profession much-populated by gays....albeit generally secretative. I "came out" from the very beginning and was immediately deposed by the higher ecclesiastical authorities......but unlike many otthers my response was to get a lawyer and to sue the ecclesiastical autorities who deposed me for non-ecclesiastical reasons.. As fate would have it, the court decided in my favor and ordered my reinstatement. Church authorities complied, but did not given me an assignment or appointment. Simply, I was returned to the "list of recognized clergy" but nothing more. So who was the "winner" or "looser" ended up being debated.
The bottom line is that since that court decision was made in l946, I have continued my pastoral outreach to gays and non-gays alike ....numbering several hundreds in a multiplicity of local congregations throughout the USA..
Bishop George Hyde
Orthodox Catholic Church of America
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9-17-2008 @ 4:16AM
Ingrid Fletcher said...
Firstly I would like to thank you all for your interest and comments regarding Matthew Mitcham my brother in law (me being the sister of his partner lachlan). Yes I call him my brother in law regardless of the fact that he is not married or that he is gay. Simply because he is in a committed relationship with my brother and I consider him an important part of my family as do all the members in our family. It is the fact that he is so totally accepted that makes all the fuss about him being gay quite baffling. After all he became an olympian because he is an exceptional diver didn't he??? To make a few things clear he did not just recently 'come out' but has been living as an openly gay man for a long time. It has been the media that has capitalised on the details of his sexuality. He would have reached up into the stands and given my brother his bouquet whether he was 'out' or not. Obviously he has become a gay icon and is very proud to hold that title. He is extremely greatful for all the wonderful support he receives from the gay community. But his sexuality simply isn't an issue to him. When I think of Matthew I think of the kind, cheeky, funny, intelligent and obviously talented man who we all love. That's it.
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